Soil compaction caused by harvesting,skidding and wood processing in eucalyptus forests on coarse‐textured tropical soils

Eucalyptus forests play a major role in the world economy, providing raw materials for different purposes. In planted forests, harvest operations performed by heavy machinery may cause severe soil compaction. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a full‐tree harvesting system in planted eucalyptus forests from Northeastern Brazil. Different soils were evaluated (two Hapludults and one Haplorthod) in two horizons (BA and Bt). We tested different equipment, namely feller buncher, skidder (with traffic intensities of 3, 6, 12 and 16 passes), flail (at different ground‐contact points), grapple saw and loader. The soil physical attributes reflected not only the impact of equipment traffic but also the intrinsic differences between the soils. Bulk density (ranging from 1.36 to 1.80 t m^?3 after trafficking) related well to soil class and horizon. Precompression stress (ranging from 203 to 430 kPa) and degree of compaction (76%–94%) following trafficking were well correlated, while increase in bulk density (reaching a maximum of 20%) related more strongly to soil moisture. A contingency table was constructed with the number of compacted samples and further examined by correspondence analysis. Compaction varied according to soil, horizon and equipment, indicating that machine–soil interactions are very specific and demand detailed research under different conditions. The Haplorthod experienced the greatest amount of compaction, whereas the Hapludult‐2 was more resistant (60% and 25% of compacted samples, respectively). The grapple saw and the skidder at higher traffic intensities (12 and 16 passes) exerted the highest mechanical impacts (81% and 67% of compacted samples, respectively).     

Colloidal stability in some tropical soils of southeastern Nigeria as affected by iron and aluminium oxides

The stability of microaggregates in soils as opposed to its dispersion is a very important soil phenomenon that checks degradation arising from unguided tillage and soil erosion. Ten soils from southeastern Nigeria were sampled from their typical A and B horizons for the study. The aim was to identify the extent of colloidal stability of the soils and the forms of Fe and Al oxides in the soils contributing to their stability. The soils are mostly Ultisols and Inceptisols formed on sandstones and shale parent materials. The soils are low in soil basic cations including the soil organic carbon (SOC). The major clay mineral is kaolinite while the soil is acid in reaction. The various forms of soil Fe and Al oxides are high with the total forms of Fe and Al being most dominant and > dithionite extracted Fe and Al > oxalate extracted Fe and Al > pyrophosphate extracted Fe and Al. The water-dispersible clay and silt (WDC) and (WDSi) which are index of dispersion in most soils are low to medium thus reflecting in the low to medium dispersion ratio (DR). The clay flocculation index (CFI) and aggregated silt + clay (ASC) were moderate to high implying the high potential stability of the soils. Soil organic carbon did not seem to be contributing much to the stability of the microaggregates while oxalate and pyrophosphate extractable Fe (Fe_ox, Fe_p) and to some extent total Al (Al_t) were among the different forms of oxides that act as aggregating agents. We propose here that rather than SOC acting as a disaggregating agent in the soils, it might have acted in association with these oxides in a linkage or bridge such as C–P–OM–C to ensure stability of the soils.     

中国暖温带地区的淀积粘化土氧化物特征

Studies of seven typical soil profiles showed that in the argillic soils derived from loess in the warm temperate zone of China all the oxides of Fe, Mn, Al and Si were enriched with the accumulation of clay fraction in the profiles. But owing to the influence of oxidation-reduction process, the migration velocity of Fe and Mn was faster than that of clay. The free degrees of those metals were in the sequence Mn>Fe>Al, which reflected their different chemical activities in soil. In soils at the same level of development, the free degree of iron and its activity, the free degree of Al, Alo/Alt× 100, SiO₂/R₂O₃, Sio/Sit× 100, and the magnetic susceptibility were relatively close to each other respectively. It might be considered that both the free degrees of Fe and Al and Alo/Alt× 100 could serve as the distinctive indexes for argillic soils in warm temperate zone. The paleoclimate corresponding to the fifth layer of paleosol (s₅) in Luochuan, Shaanxi was warmer and more humid than the present, and the paleoecological landscape approximated to today's bioclimatic belt between the temperate deciduous broadleaved forest and the semiarid forest types. The Mössbouer spectra of the colloidal fraction (<1μm) in the clayified horizon of argillic dark loessial soil, cinnamon soil, brown earth and (s₅) paleosol indicated the superparamagnetic state at room temperature. The magnetic splitting six line spectra were observed clearly at 80 K. The results fitted with a computer showed that hematite and goethite were predominant in iron oxides and commonly existed as fine particles. The proportion of hematite and goethite in soil colloids varied considerably with different climates. The higher the temperature, the larger the proportion of hematite.     

Phosphate eesoeption isotherms in four selected tropical soils and one temperate soil

Abstract

Some problem areas connected with soil testing and with reporting soil test and plant analysis results are explored, A uniform system for reporting soil test results is suggested as a step towards further standardization of soil test methods within and among states. Four categories are suggested as a common terminology for soil test and plant analysis results. These are: deficient, probable response, adequate and excessive.     

Sorption of pesticides in tropical and temperate soils from Australia and the Philippines

The sorption behavior of diuron, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid was investigated using 22 soils collected in triplicate from temperate environments in Australia and tropical environments in Australia and the Philippines. Within the temperate environment in Australia, the soils were selected from a range of land uses. The average KOC values (L/kg) for imidacloprid were 326, 322, and 336; for thiacloprid, the values were 915, 743, and 842; and for diuron, the values were 579, 536, and 618 for the Ord (tropical), Mt. Lofty (temperate), and Philippines (tropical) soils, respectively. For all soils, the sorption coefficients decreased in the following order: thiacloprid > diuron > imidacloprid. There were no significant differences in sorption behavior between the tropical soils from the Philippines and the temperate soils from Australia. Sorption was also not significantly related with soil characteristics, namely, organic carbon (OC) content, clay content, and pH, for any of the three chemicals studied. When the data were sorted into separate land uses, the sorption of all three chemicals was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with OC for the rice soils from the Philippines. Sorption coefficients for all three chemicals were highly correlated with OC in temperate, native soils only when one extreme value was removed. The relationships between sorption of all three chemicals and OC in temperate, pasture soils were best described by a polynomial. Sorption coefficients for imidacloprid and thiacloprid determined in the temperate pasture soils remained fairly consistent as the OC content increased from 3.3 to 5.3%, indicating that, although the total OC in the pasture soils was increasing, the component of OC involved with sorption of these two compounds may have been remaining constant. This study demonstrated that the origin of the soils (i.e., temperate vs tropical) had no significant effect on the sorption behavior, but in some cases, land use significantly affected the sorption behavior of the three pesticides studied. The impact of land use on the nature of soil OC will be further investigated by NMR analysis.     

The distribution of nitrogen in some highly organic tropical volcanic soils

The qualitative and quantitative distribution of N-compounds in 10 tropical soils, and in a number of humic materials extracted from representative samples thereof, was determined after 6 N HCl hydrolysis.Eighty to 98% of the total N in the soils and humic materials was hydrolysable by 6n HCl. Slightly less than one half the hydrolysable N in the soils and humic fractions consisted of amino acids. Well-drained soils and fulvic acids extracted from them contained unusually high concentrations of the acidic amino acids, aspartic and glutamic acids. Between 80 and 95% of the amino acids in the soils was accounted for in the humic materials + NaOH-insoluble organic residues. NH⁺₄-N released by acid hydrolysis was generally higher for the soil samples than for the humic materials. Amino sugar-N constituted relatively small proportions of the total N in the soils and humic fractions.Our data suggest that large quantities of amorphous allophanic materials coupled with relatively high enzymic activity are responsible for the observed accumulation of acidic amino acids in the well-drained tropical volcanic soils.     

Adsorption and translocation of sulfur in some tropical acid soils

In view of growing concern about sulfur (S) deficiency, we attempted to study the effect of soil characteristics on the adsorption and translocation of S in soils. Laboratory experiments were conducted with five surface soils collected from three regions in the state of Orissa (Eastern India). In an adsorption study, all the soils were equilibrated with graded doses of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄). Freundlich adsorption isotherms provided good fit to S adsorption data. Free Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ in the soils were primarily responsible for retaining added S in soils. Further, studies on the movement of sulfate‐S in 30‐cm plexiglass columns, where radio‐labeled S along with water (5 cm) was applied as gypsum and K₂SO₄, showed that K₂SO₄‐S migrated deeper than gypsum‐S. Sulfur moved deeper in case of initially water‐saturated soils than in initially air‐dry soils.     

Origin of cristobalite in soils derived from volcanic ash in temperate and tropical regions

Cristobalite was isolated from four Ando soils and a Podzolic soil developed on volcanic ashes in French West Indies, Indonesia and Japan by selective chemical dissolution with 6 M HCl, 0.5 M NaOH and H₂SiF₆ treatments followed by specific gravity separation. All the cristobalite isolates give X-ray diffractograms with a strong and sharp peak at 4.10–4.11 Å and associated peaks at 2.8 and 2.5 Å, which are characteristic for cristobalite of high-temperature origin. Four out of five isolates show a peak at 4.06–4.07 Å ascribed to low-temperature cristobalite. The oxygen isotopic ratios (δ¹⁸O_SMOW) of cristobalite isolates show a range of +5.3 to +11.0%. which suggests a high-temperature igneous origin. These X-ray diffraction and oxygen isotopic data indicate that the cristobalite was inherited from primary volcanic ash rather than formed during pedogenesis.     

The sources and composition of humus in some soils of West Antarctica

Original data on humus-forming substances and their elemental and biochemical compositions in Antarctic soils are discussed. Mosses, lichens, algae, remains of higher vascular plants, and penguin guano of two types differ considerably in their chemical compositions. This leads to significant differences in the formation of humic substances in plant materials themselves in the course of their transformation. However, no significant differences in the composition of humus in the fine earth of soils developing under different humus-forming materials have been revealed, which may be related to the extremely low rates of humification. Significant differences between the soils of Antarctic landscapes proper and the soils of the Subantarctic King George Island are only observed in the humus enrichment with nitrogen. The soils of Antarctica are low-humus soils with the humate-fulvate or fulvate types of humus.     

Microbial community composition and rhizodeposit-carbon assimilation in differently managed temperate grassland soils

Rhizodeposit-carbon provides a major energy source for microbial growth in the rhizosphere of grassland soils. However, little is known about the microbial communities that mediate the rhizosphere carbon dynamics, especially how their activity is influenced by changes in soil management. We combined a ¹³CO₂ pulse-labeling experiment with phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis in differently managed Belgian grasslands to identify the active rhizodeposit-C assimilating microbial communities in these grasslands and to evaluate their response to management practices. Experimental treatments consisted of three mineral N fertilization levels (0, 225 and 450 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) and two mowing frequencies (3 and 5 times y⁻¹). Phospholipid fatty acids were extracted from surface (0-5 cm) bulk (BU) and root-adhering (RA) soil samples prior to and 24 h after pulse-labeling and were analyzed by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-c-IRMS). Soil habitats significantly differed in microbial community structure (as revealed by multivariate analysis of mol% biomarker PLFAs) as well as in gram-positive bacterial rhizodeposit-C uptake (as revealed by greater ¹³C-PLFA enrichment following pulse-labeling in RA compared to BU soil in the 450N/5M treatment). Mowing frequency did not significantly alter the relative abundance (mol%) or activity (¹³C enrichment) of microbial communities. In the non-fertilized treatment, the greatest ¹³C enrichment was seen in all fungal biomarker PLFAs (C16:1ω5, C18:1ω9, C18:2ω6,9 and C18:3ω3,6,9), which demonstrates a prominent contribution of fungi in the processing of new photosynthate-C in non-fertilized grassland soils. In all treatments, the lowest ¹³C enrichment was found in gram-positive bacterial and actinomycetes biomarker PLFAs. Fungal biomarker PLFAs had significantly lower ¹³C enrichment in the fertilized compared to non-fertilized treatments in BU soil (C16:1ω5, C18:1ω9) as well as RA soil (all fungal biomarkers). While these observations clearly indicated a negative effect of N fertilization on fungal assimilation of plant-derived C, the effect of N fertilization on fungal abundance could only be detected for the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) PLFA (C16:1ω5). On the other hand, increases in the relative abundance of gram-positive bacterial PLFAs with N fertilization were found without concomitant increases in ¹³C enrichment following pulse-labeling. We conclude that in situ¹³C pulse-labeling of PLFAs is an effective tool to detect functional changes of those microbial communities that are dominantly involved in the immediate processing of new rhizosphere-C.     

Possible influence of termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) on forms and composition of free sesquioxides in tropical soils

There has been less concern about soil mineralogical alteration than about soil physical, chemical and biological changes induced by termite nest-building activity. Furthermore, much less attention has been paid to free sesquioxides than to phyllosilicate minerals. In the present study, we conducted field morphological observations and selective dissolution analysis to characterize free sesquioxides in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds as compared with surrounding pedons in different toposequence positions, i.e., seasonally flooded valley bottom, hydromorphic fringe and well-drained upland sites. Distinctive redoximorphic features, such as surface yellowish layers on mound structures from the fringe site, indicate possible alteration of iron sesquioxide forms in the mounds due to the transportation of soil from reductive (aquic subsoil) to oxidative (epigeal mound) environments by the nest-building activity of M. bellicosus. On the other hand, the iron-soluble content in the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) system (Fe_d) was generally higher in the mound structures than at the adjacent sub-surface (Ap2) horizon at each toposequence position, while there was less difference in the content of acid ammonium oxalate (AAO) extractable iron (Fe_o) as compared to Fe_d. As a consequence, the iron activity index (Fe_d/Fe_o ratio) was found for the most part to be lower in the mound structures than in the neighboring Ap2 horizon. In addition, the content of Fe_d, AAO-soluble Al (Al_o) and DCB-extractable Al (Al_d) was significantly correlated with clay content in these soils. These findings suggest that M. bellicosus preferentially collects clay particles, probably from the clay-rich subsoils, such as the argillic horizon, which has been formed by the co-migration of phyllosilicate minerals and relatively crystalline sesquioxides. The species then likely incorporates them into the mounds, which induces an increase in the Fe_d content relative to that of Fe_o, resulting in a decreased iron activity index in the mound structures.     

Available organic nitrogen in temperate, subtropical, and tropical soils extracted with different solutions

Extraction of organic N by chemical solutions has been used to assess the amount of available N in soil. We tested the efficiency of several solutions in extracting organic N from tropical, subtropical and temperate soils. A conventional 0.067 M phosphate buffer successfully extracted organic N from all 23 soils examined. High-performance size exclusion chromatograms showed a single peak at about 7,800 Da for all phosphate buffer extracts irrespective of soil types. The peak area correlated with the organic N concentration of extracts. Tropical soils had lower retention of organic N than other soils according to the conventional and sequential extraction with phosphate buffer. Organic N extracted with sulfuric acid was significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with the amount of extracted Fe, suggesting that Fe might play a role in the retention of organic N in soil.     

Evaluation of availability and quantity-intensity relationship of zinc in some tropical soils

Zinc was extracted from seven soils collected from Haryana state (India), representing the tropical region of the country, to predict the availability of Zn to crops. Weakly adsorbed Zn extracted by 0.05 M CaCl₂ was almost negligible. Similarly 1 M MgCl₂, designated to extract the lattice Zn, extracted small quantities of Zn indicating that no Zn was substituted for any other cation in clay lattice. Maximum zinc was extracted by chelating agents like DTPA and EDTA and were correlated significantly among themselves. None of the methods tested was significantly correlated to plant Zn indicating that in addition to crop requirement, other soil factors play a major role in determining the Zn availability. Equilibrium Zn values in all except a sandy soil, were less than 1 μg Zn/ml indicating the possibility of moderate to severe Zn deficiency in these soils.     

Effect of removal of free oxides on changes in dispersibility and charge characteristics of soils

Changes in dispersibility and charge characteristics of two soils with different colloidal properties were investigated after various extracting treatments of free oxides. The soil samples were taken from the upland field in a reclaimed area (highly dispersive) and from the B horizon of an adjacent forest area (physically stable), both of which derived from the same parent material. Special attention was paid to selective extraction of Al and Fe oxides. After the extraction of free oxides by conventional methods such as DCB or oxalate treatment, dispersibility of the soils which always became too high made it difficult to relate the amounts of removed oxides with the changes in dispersibility. Thus, extractions by milder treatments were designed in order to remove varying amounts of free oxides using several organic salt solutions. Among the treatments, citrate and oxalate extracted more Al oxides, followed by tartrate. Dithionite, acetate, and NaCl extracted only trace amounts of Al oxides. This order seemed to be controlled by the stability constants of organo-Al complexes. The changes in dispersibility of the residual soil were related to the amount of extracted Al, especially for the forest soil, but not to Fe or Si. After these treatments, the amount of positive charges of the soil decreased while that of negative charges increased. For instance, the amount of total charges of the forest soil after DCB treatment was 1.5 times larger than that of the non-treated soil at the dispersion pH, which was mainly attributed to the removal of Al oxides. Although the amount of removed Al oxides was relatively small, the changes in dispersibility of the residual forest soil were drastic, indicating that free oxides (mainly Al) removed by milder treatments were the most external, active fractions. This interpretation suggests the practical importance of the release of amorphous sesquioxides in the natural weathering process in preventing the dispersion of potentially dispersive soils.     

Morphology and composition of some soils under cultivation in Saudi Arabia

Twelve profiles representing the principal soils of five major agricultural areas (Al-Kharj, Gassim, Hofuf, Taif and Wadi Dawasir) in Saudi Arabia were described and sampled by horizons. Laboratory analyses were then made of the samples to characterize the profiles more completely. Analyses were also made for certain nutrient elements to get some measure of their levels in the soils.The profiles are tentatively classified in the Entisol and Aridisol orders of the American taxonomy. Five Entisol profiles were considered to be Fluvents and two Psamments. Four Aridisol profiles were considered to be Argids and one an Orthid.All of the profiles are saline and calcareous and most are also sandy. Furthermore, amounts of nutrient elements such as phosphorus, iron and zinc in surface layers are below minimum levels established for similar soils in earlier investigations in other countries. Consequently, the soils are believed to lack sufficient quantities of several elements for optimum plant growth. Successful use of the soils will thus require reductions in salinity, increased levels of nutrient elements, and skillful irrigation to provide adequate moisture.     

Clay mineralogical and ammonium fixation characteristics of some tropical upland rice soils

Abstract

In view of the agronomic and economic significance of NH₄ fixation in soils, an attempt has been made to relate this to the most reactive mineral constituents of soils ‐ the clay minerals, under the temperature‐moisture regimes normal to tropical upland rice soils. Laboratory fixation study was done with NH₄, concentrations similar to those common in soils upon N fertilization, and under alternate wetting and drying at ambient temperatures rather than at 100°C as in many published studies.

Results of the investigation show that soil clays with dominant vermiculite and montmorillonite fix the greatest proportion of applied NH₄ (94 and 91%), followed by beidellite (72%) and x‐ray amorphous (45–64%) clays. Fixation is negligible (10%) in the clay with mineral suite consisting of hydrous mica, halloysite, and chlorite. Crystallinity of minerals seems to influence NH₄ fixation appreciably.     

Fractional composition of lead compounds in soils of Moscow and Moscow region

Sequential fractionation of lead compounds from the urban and suburban soils of Moscow and eastern Moscow region was performed using the Tessier method. It was found that strongly bound lead compounds retained by Fe and Mn hydroxides were predominant in the background (reference) soils of the Meshchera Lowland in Moscow oblast. The content of almost all the lead fractions, except for the hydroxide fraction, increased in the contaminated soils. The quantitative proportions of the particulate fractions varied depending on the distance from the city, the physicochemical properties of the soils, and the land use. The profile distribution of the lead was of accumulative character; the metal was fixed on the biogeochemical barrier, where the lead compounds of the fourth fraction bound to organic matter are mainly accumulated.     

The importance of variable charge due to amorphous siliceous clay constituents in some soils from Kenya

Effects of different quantities of Si on hydroxyl-release (at constant and freely drifting pH) were measured in samples from soils in volcanic ash in Kenya and in mixtures of pure Al- and Si-oxides after additions of NaF. In addition pH_o and PZNC determinations were done.Low pH_NaF values in soils are partly due to extractable Si, as follows from the correlation between the depression in pH_NaF and the extractable Si content. The effect is due to the variable charges of the siliceous clay components, which also depress the level of pH_o even if the extractable iron content is high. The relation between ionretention and pH shows that the siliceous soils from volcanic ash have variable charge and very low AEC's.     

Effect of warming on the temperature dependence of soil respiration rate in arctic,temperate and tropical soils

We examined the response of the temperature coefficient (Q₁₀) for soil respiration rate to changes in environmental temperature through a laboratory incubation experiment. Soil samples were collected from three climatic areas: arctic (Svalbard, Norway), temperate (Tsukuba, Japan) and tropical (Pasoh, Malaysia). The arctic and temperate soils were incubated at 8 °C (control), 12 °C (4 °C warming) and 16 °C (8 °C warming) for 17 days. The tropical soil was incubated at 16 °C (8 °C cooling), 24 °C (control) and 32 °C (8 °C warming). Before and after the incubation experiment, the temperature dependence of soil microbial respiration was measured using an open-airflow method with IRGA by changing the temperature in a water bath. The initial Q₁₀ before the incubation experiment was larger in the soils from higher latitudes: 3.4 in the arctic soil, 2.9 in the temperate soil, and 2.1 in the tropical soil. The response of the microbial respiration rate to change in temperature differed among the three soil types. The temperature dependence of respiration rate in the arctic soil did not change in response to warming by 4 and 8 °C with a Q₁₀ of about 3. On the other hand, the Q₁₀ in the temperate soil decreased with increasing incubation temperature: from 2.8 in soils incubated at 8 °C to 2.5 at 12 °C and 2.0 at 16 °C. In the tropical soil, the Q₁₀ was not changed even by the 8 °C warming with a value of 2.1, whereas the Q₁₀ was increased from 2.1 to 2.7 by the 8 °C cooling. These results suggest that the response of microbial respiration to climatic warming may differ between soils from different latitudes.